My Finnish experiences lead me to wonder whether they might not have been both?posted by infini at 1:16 AM on January 19, 2013 [4 favorites]

My Finnish experiences

The sauna is a Finnish thing - it's one of the very few Finnish words imported into English.

It's not really a Scandinavian thing. Many Swedish homes have a "bastu", but these are mainly used for storage (or brewing beer?) There is no "sauna" culture in Scandinavia - nothing like in FInland where it is a way of lfe.

So I would not be surprised if Scandinavian Vikings - in England coming mostly from Denmark - would have put a sauna in their homes (with a mind to resale value) and used it for something else - like brewing beer.posted by three blind mice at 1:33 AM on January 19, 2013 [1 favorite]

Now there's an idea for the next BeNeLux MeFi meetup: sauna & "sauna"...posted by knile at 1:58 AM on January 19, 2013 [2 favorites]

Super cool. I love the nicely presented online poster session.

Archaeology...super cool. Thanks.posted by Miko at 5:58 AM on January 19, 2013

Oh awsome, i know the son of one of the founders of experimental archceology and he has like, the best conversation pieces ( oh that? Thats a spoon used for fermenting vast armounts of grain for wort)posted by The Whelk at 6:53 AM on January 19, 2013

three blind mice, drinking and sauna are like meat and potatoes to the Finns, hence my thought.posted by infini at 8:33 AM on January 19, 2013

The stone built installation at Cubbie Roo’s Castle, Wyre, a Viking stronghold of the 12th Century AD...

I'm not sure how I feel about this as a Viking stronghold name. It would make an excellent theme park attraction, though.posted by and so but then, we at 8:46 AM on January 19, 2013

No saunas? Then what about my daydream of naked Vikings in saunas?posted by happyroach at 2:52 AM on January 20, 2013

I have experience with your daydream. On a rooftop. In Shanghai. (Its a loooong story)posted by infini at 2:58 AM on January 20, 2013

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